Hanshan Ancient Trail

Hanshan Ancient Trail

Hanshan Ancient Trail

Starting and ending (via) points: Jietou Ancient Town; the eastern route passes through Houtan, Jiuzhe, Jixi, Bainingtan and connects to Nanhuang Ancient Trail. The southern route goes through Houtan, Huangshui, Huangjiawan, Jiang’ao, Zhufeng, Jingkeng, Yantan and connects to Guangdu in Xianju. The western route extends through Langke, Fangshan, Jinmankeng, Leimakeng, Ruohu to Shanghu Town in Pan’an County. The northern route runs through Hexili, Huangrunkeng, Dongkeng, Hongjunling, crosses the boundaries of Taizhou, Yuezhou, and Wuzhou, and links to Xinchang.

Total length: 154,528 meters

Overview and main features: The Hanshan Ancient Trail is a radial network of ancient trails originating from Jietou Ancient Town in Tiantai County, connecting the ancient regions of Taizhou, Yuezhou, and Wuzhou. It is named after the hermitage site of Hanshanzi, a Tang Dynasty poet-monk. The history of the Hanshan Ancient Trail dates back over 2,000 years, with a total length of 155 kilometers—vividly depicted in the lines by Tang poet Du Mu: “Far up the cold mountain winds a slanting stone path, where white clouds rise there live some humble homes.” Even in recent times, commerce thrived along these routes—trading in agricultural produce, silk, and porcelain—which made the trail an important economic and cultural corridor. The area boasts stunning natural scenery, with over 70% forest coverage, offering a wide variety of hiking routes suitable for different types of trekking experiences. Within a hundred-mile radius of the Hanshan Ancient Trail lie rolling mountains and lush vegetation. Highlights include “Hanyan Sunset,” one of the “Eight Scenic Spots of Tiantai Mountain”; the winding “Jiuzhe Beautiful Valley”; Hanshan Lake, where lake and mountain views blend seamlessly; Xiaoxikeng, known as a “land of idyllic beauty”; the steep and majestic “Hongjun Ridge”; Tianlong Ancient Temple, standing at the junction of three prefectures; and the “Ten-Li Iron Dragon,” where cliffs stretch like a black dragon across the land. Hiking the southern route upstream to the Daluei Mountain area or venturing deep into the heart of Jiuzhe Mountain via the eastern route offers opportunities for high-intensity trekking adventures, including exploring vast fields of mountain azaleas. The trail is recognized as one of “China’s Top Ten Classic Hiking Routes” and a “hiking paradise” in eastern China.

Source: Zhejiang Provincial Forestry Bureau

Further reading:

· Top Ten Charming Ancient Trails in Zhejiang